Review and repetition are essential stages in creating long term memory.

​The last few blogs should have given you lots of ideas of what you can do to actually learn something. Today, I want to talk about the importance of reviewing what you have learned so that the information learned can become your long term memory; or moved from your conscious mind to your subconscious mind.

This is where we want your language to be……..As mentioned in the header - review and repetition are essential stages in creating long term memories. Material should be reviewed frequently – look at notes you have made or sections that you have highlighted. Then it should be practised – preferably within 24 hours.If an idea is used within 24 hours of seeing or hearing about it, it is much more likely to be used permanently. So some ways to practise/review what you’ve learned in your online lessons/tutorials.

Completion of homework exercises. These just demonstrate what you have learned on line or in your tutorial and enable you to apply what you have learned to your own life. It is a very exciting part of your language learning journey. The VLLC learning method uses three deliveries – completion of online lesson, tutorial and completion of homework tasks. The homework should be done within 24 hours of either your online lesson or tutorial. Make the homework tasks real – don’t just answer the question or complete the exercise – make them a reflection of YOUR life.

Mental rehearsal. This is a great exercise to practise your language skills. Use your imagination to see yourself in country actually using what you have learned. Build up a full and detailed picture of yourself in a real life situation and then see yourself in your mind’s eye, performing well.

One thing I have noticed in my own language journey – my language is really fluent and GREAT in these rehearsals.

Review. Think about what you have just learned and put your own words into new language structures. Say the sentences out loud.Questions andanswers. If you are reviewing a statement – imagine asking the question to get that answer; if you are reviewing a question – imagine different ways you could answer it.

Remember that mistakes and errors show you what needs more attention. So concentrate – not on how many mistakes you may have made but on what type of mistake it is. With your language - is it structure, vocabulary or spelling? Once you know the problem – you can solve it by paying more attention to this area.Happy learning.Jo